Cost of oil change amounts to armed robbery! Holy shitaroo!

[bikerskier]

Overdue for an oil and filter change on my 50-60-70 Big Ride, I headed for the local big dealer Tues AM in Hattiesburg.

Enjoyed their amazingly large inventory of shiny toys but when I got the bill, I was shocked. $132.50, $79.50 for labor plus materials and tax. Fook! The most I had previously paid on this trip was $85.00 and I thought that was high but OK, since it was a Monday and it was the only shop open.

Jeez, 20 minutes work and gouged in the eyes. I wonder if it was due to my Oregon plate and obvious few alternatives since I cannot change the oil in the hotel parking lot. Pretty hard to feel good about that dealer. I may be doing the next one in BeemerDons garage.

 

[Bounce]

You can always do it in the parking lot of a walmart and give them the oil and waste to recycle.

 

[FJReady]

You got hosed by unscrupulous dealer.

When I'm on the road needing an oil change I visit a Walmart with an auto service department. I buy a gallon of Rotella T, a filter (ST7317 is excellent) and a large foil pan for roasting a turkey. Drain the oil into the turkey pan, swap out the filter and put in new oil. Put the old oil back in the 1 gallon container and politely hand it back to the kid at the automotive counter. He'll know what to do with it. Obviously I carry sufficient tools and paper towels with me on road trips.

Oh, I see Bounce beat me to it. Yup, what he ^^^ said.

 

[Warpdrv]

Guess from now on you'll be asking for prices ahead of time - that is pretty stoopid pricing IMO, thats more then we charge for a freakin vehicle oil change with synthetic on a mercedes or any of those other goofy german cars....

FWIW - you could probably pull into one of those midas shops and tell them you just need a filter for a honda accord - they are the same cross referenced fwiw.

 

[Fred W]

Overdue for an oil and filter change on my 50-60-70 Big Ride, I headed for the local big dealer Tues AM in Hattiesburg.Enjoyed their amazingly large inventory of shiny toys but when I got the bill, I was shocked. $132.50, $79.50 for labor plus materials and tax. Fook! The most I had previously paid on this trip was $85.00 and I thought that was high but OK, since it was a Monday and it was the only shop open.

Jeez, 20 minutes work and gouged in the eyes. I wonder if it was due to my Oregon plate and obvious few alternatives since I cannot change the oil in the hotel parking lot. Pretty hard to feel good about that dealer. I may be doing the next one in BeemerDons garage.

Ralph,

If it really only took them 20 minutes, how did they justify the $79.50? That sounds like it may have been their hourly rate. Did they charge you for a whole hour when it took them only 20 minutes?

 

[airboss]

Local dealer here charges one hour minimum for any work.

No one that can turn a wrench goes there.

 

[ahchiu]

It would have been cheaper to get a oil drain pan and change it in the parking lot of the auto parts store and have them recycle the oil and give the pan free to someone in the parking lot.

 

[bigjohnsd]

I can see $132.50 if they actually performed all of the steps involved in the Yamaha Service but I'm willing to wager they did not.

IE the https://fjr1300.info/maint/12k.html 12,000 mile service has a few steps other than changing the oil.

You got FOCKED!

 

[1911]

If a far from home wanderer looked me up on the fjr assistance list and called needing an oil change I'd tell 'em to come right over. I bet many other forumers would say the same.

I'd even let you "work off" the bill with a little mowing or gutter cleaning or such

 

[Fred W]

I'd even let you "work off" the bill with a little mowing or gutter cleaning or such

Just trying to make the Walmart parking lot look better, aren't you?

:lol:

 

[TomInPA]

The $30 (30 minute) oil change at the Walmart parking lot while on a 8000 mile trip...priceless.

I purchased oil, collection tray ($2.99) and Pure One filter from the store, and left the old oil and tray with the auto shop. I carry a 17 mm wrench, so no problem. This is why we have knee pads in our riding pants.

 

[Bugnatr]

He's from Oregon, Tom. You can't pump your own gas or change your own oil.

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

Why didn't you try to negotiate a better price?

If you don't ask for a better deal you for SURE won't get one.

BTW....I can understand why you didn't ask for the price up front, who in there right mind would expect to pay that much for an oil change.

What amazes me is that they even attempt to charge their customers that much, or maybe they soaked you because they KNEW you were from out of town. If you can, next time you're on a trip and need service get the price BEFORE they find out you're not a local. I'd bet my paycheck that locals don't pay what you paid, don't see how they would be doing many oil changes if they did.

 

[dcarver]

Ralph, you need to hide the Rolex when at the service counter...

 

[RossKean]

I've done the Walmart oil change as well. I bought the oil, borrowed the oil pan from the service bay, returned the pan(and used oil). Didn't bother with a filter change - I usually change it every time but Yamaha says every second time so didn't worry about it. If on a long(er) trip, I certainly don't sweat about letting the change interval exceed the recommended. Compared to short local rides, long highway days in the saddle is MUCH easier on the oil.

 

[bikerskier]

I've been changing oil and doing minor service work on my bikes for 50 years so the Walmart solution clearly should have been on my mind had I known the price. And hindsight is so much clearer than foresight. Yes, I should have asked but since I was prepared to pay around $80 for the convenience based on previous changes on this trip, it did not enter my mind. Even at 70, I am learning **** every damn day.

 

[escapefjrtist]

He's from Oregon, Tom. You can't pump your own gas or change your own oil.

That's just mean, true but still mean Bug!

--G

 

[HotRodZilla]

Bikerskier, when your headed this way, stop by. I'll change your oil for $80. I'll even give you a beer while you wait. OR...Maybe I'll just let you use my geerage and tools while I drink the beer.

 

[Geezer]

Walmart, or just about any place that sells oil and filters is convenient. Most won't give you permission because of their insurance, but I've never been told not to do it once I started. Just don't leave a mess behind after you're done.